For several years, the community around the Walleys Quarry landfill has complained about odours from the site (see letsrecycle.com story).
Following an inspection on 14 January 2022, the Agency issued a compliance assessment report identifying breaches relating to off-site odour and Walley’s Quarry’s management of landfill gas infrastructure.
Walleys Quarry complained about the report, which the Agency said yesterday (26 January) it had recently concluded considering.
The Agency has now completely withdrawn its record of a breach relating to blockages in the gas management infrastructure, saying in a statement: “We have considered further the circumstances around the blockages and the adequacy of WQL’s response. We have concluded that WQL took the necessary remedial action in a reasonable time.”
And it has downgraded the breach relating to off-site odour, saying it had the potential for a “minor” impact, rather than a major one. The Agency still concludes Walleys Quarry’s management systems “failed to minimise risks” of odour due to surface water flooding, but the bringing forward of a capping programme meant “the right controls have been identified”.
Walleys Quarry welcomed the Agency’s decision to “significantly downgrade their assessment of conditions at the site during their inspection in January 2022”.
‘Painstaking work’
A spokesperson for Walleys Quarry said: “We note the Environment Agency recognise efforts to reduce emission levels onsite, described as having ‘proven effective’.
This painstaking work conducted by Walleys Quarry has delivered a consistent and continued record of improvement
- Walleys Quarry
“This painstaking work conducted by Walleys Quarry has delivered a consistent and continued record of improvement noticed by many local residents and reflected in the positive results at the mobile monitoring facilities located around the site.
“Walleys Quarry Ltd remains committed to alleviating concerns and providing a clean, healthy, and sustainable operation that supports our community.”
April 2022
Walleys Quarry also complained about a second compliance assessment report expressing concerns about waste acceptance and pre-acceptance procedures and management systems following an inspection on 8 April 2022.
The Agency reviewed the complaint and concluded the breaches listed within the report were “correct”. Walleys Quarry says it continues to challenge the “incorrect scores”.
Ongoing investigation
The Environment Agency says its investigation into alleged illegal waste activities at sites operated by Walleys Quarry and its ultimate owner Red Industries Limited remains ongoing.
The Agency says it received a total of 118 odour reports from members of the public in the week from 16-22 January, an increase on the previous week.
Its statement adds: “Our decision regarding the first complaint does not alter the Environment Agency’s commitment to our ‘capture, contain and destroy’ strategy which has already proven effective at reducing hydrogen sulphide levels in the local community.
“The Environment Agency also continues with the investigation into Walleys Quarry Landfill site’s regulatory compliance previously announced.”
Last October, Walleys Quarry withdrew an appeal against an odour nuisance abatement notice issued by Newcastle-under-Lyme borough council following a mediation process (see letsrecycle.com story).
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